It’s not that I didn’t have permission to land at the private grass strip. It’s that the person who granted me permission to land there wasn’t technically the owner.
While marked private on the chart, an idyllic grass strip proved to be friendly and welcoming in person. [Courtesy: Jason McDowell]
Key Takeaways:
The author describes his apprehension about making an unannounced landing at a private grass airfield, Der Schwarzwald Airport, with only indirect permission from a friend of an owner, fearing a potentially unwelcoming reception.
Upon landing, the author was warmly greeted by the people present, including Al, one of the airfield owners whom the author had previously met and featured in an aviation article.
The visit evolved into an enjoyable experience of aviation camaraderie, featuring a hangar tour and shared stories, ultimately dispelling the author's initial fears and concluding with an open invitation for future visits.
Bail money isn’t something that I typically include on my before-landing checklist. Of all the variables with which one might have to contend upon landing at a new airport, incarceration generally isn’t one of them.
But on a late-afternoon flight through the Wisconsin countryside last week, it did cross my mind.
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Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur.
